'50 black esquire?

Chrismeyer · December 20th, 2003, 01:08 AM

O.k.,I have this black(poly)Tele bod lying around.I was going to have mjtelecaster do a '52 RI relic for me,BUT,the parts are here(-neck)and I just re-read the part in the bible about the mythical '50 Esquire in black.
I think I could have a great copy of what that guitar might have been,but I need some input on pups,neck,and decals.
I need a neck BAD,and a decal,but what should I get,and where?
Anyone have these things?
I guessing a one-piece maple,but what profile,or should I just get the one I like best?
HELP!!!!!!
CONFUSED!

KLYNCH · December 20th, 2003, 02:56 AM

I always loved that guitar in the tele book.

blondeonblonde · December 20th, 2003, 02:58 AM

I'm doing 2 of these Black 1950 Esquires now-
To do one right, in my opinion, you need:

A pinewood body planed to 1 1/2" thick opposed to 1 3/4" like a standard Telecaster.
No diagonal route. Black lacquer, no undercoat.
You could use the body you have, just strip it, and get a body maker to plane it for you, and re-radius it. The pickup cavities will have to be deepened a bit as well. I had to do this on one of my bodies for these Esquires.

A non skunk stripe neck with a very beefy profile. I am using maple cap necks custom ordered from USACG for my 2 '50 Esquires. The originals of course were non-truss rod, but the maple cap gives you the look, with a truss rod.
Early repro knobs,white guard, and an "organ switch" if you can find one, let me know!
With an Esquire, I recommend strongly using a very hot pickup, something to give you lower midrange character, since you're only running a single pickup. Have the pickup custom made for you, or if you want the best, contact me for an Alan Hamel pickup.

Let us know how it turns out!

inge · December 20th, 2003, 05:10 AM

1:Decal,Mike at the Decalshop(www.thedecalshop.co.uk)
He does amazing stuff and is a nice chap.
2:Pup,Try lundgren pickups in sweden (www.lundgrenpickups.se)He has made some amazing custom work over the years and it´s not that expensive either,good luck and keep us posted :)

Teleologist · December 20th, 2003, 09:41 AM

FWIW, you can do a late 50s maple-neck Tele or Esquire in black and be correct. I don't have the bible handy, but I recall that Fender started offering optional colors to the public in '57 for an extra charge. Before that it was generally for artists, but I've never been clear on the black '52 RIs - were any early-50's Teles(other than the Pine-Esquires) sold in black???

Chrismeyer · December 21st, 2003, 12:47 PM

Thanks for the input guy's.
I have some searching to do,but less thanks to these site's you gave me.
I'll keep you posted although it will probably be January (late)before I can really get going on it.(you know,Christmas and all)
If anyone has more to add,I've got time to think,so let's have it!

0le FUZZY · December 21st, 2003, 01:11 PM

But a no-truss-rod-neck mite giff yew a headache and that thin pine body mite knott feel jes rite.

Jes buy a $169.00 black Squier and pretend and make yer TELE like yew wassa gonna dew inna first place---------JMHO!!

Chrismeyer · December 21st, 2003, 03:50 PM

That's what I'll do Fuzzy.It's already painted and all.It was a really great quality MIM body,it's made jus lik a US of A body,and I agree the look and sound of the guitar will be improved by the body NOT being pine.
I do have all '52 RI parts with straight head screws and brass saddles etc.
I't will LOOK as close as possable to the real deal,plus more than likely none of us will ever touch a '50 esquire,so noone would know the difference anyway.
Should I go for a "nocaster"pup?
What would you do Fuzzy?
W.W.F.D?
BTW Inge,I saved the link to the decal guy,but the pup link didn't work,
Thanks.

0le FUZZY · December 21st, 2003, 04:00 PM

Well I'll tell ya anyway.

Iffin I wassa wantin a vintage sound on the duck-plucker and really wanted the tone I hear when I detect "Vintage" I'd haff Lindy Fralin re-wind a re-issue P/U tew the specs on a few he hass done fer me before.

Don't use my name cause he don't know me from Adam cause I used a proxy fer my deals. Jes the bess IMHO!! (both the proxy and Lindy)

---0.F.---

Chrismeyer · December 21st, 2003, 04:48 PM

Here's another one for ya Fuzzy.
Since we're not keeping it exact to the real thing.
You have any mad scien-tele-ist wiring for an esquire with a 4-way switch?
There has to be something cool for that.

December 20th, 2003, 01:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
Chrismeyer Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Atlanta GA Age: 34 Posts: 631	'50 black esquire? O.k.,I have this black(poly)Tele bod lying around.I was going to have mjtelecaster do a '52 RI relic for me,BUT,the parts are here(-neck)and I just re-read the part in the bible about the mythical '50 Esquire in black. I think I could have a great copy of what that guitar might have been,but I need some input on pups,neck,and decals. I need a neck BAD,and a decal,but what should I get,and where? Anyone have these things? I guessing a one-piece maple,but what profile,or should I just get the one I like best? HELP!!!!!! CONFUSED!

December 20th, 2003, 02:56 AM	#2 (permalink)
KLYNCH NEW MEMBER! Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 2	Sounds cool I always loved that guitar in the tele book. __________________ "Life Ain't nothing but the Blues"Albert Collins

December 20th, 2003, 02:58 AM	#3 (permalink)
blondeonblonde Tele-Meister Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: nyc Posts: 210	Well I'm doing 2 of these Black 1950 Esquires now- To do one right, in my opinion, you need: A pinewood body planed to 1 1/2" thick opposed to 1 3/4" like a standard Telecaster. No diagonal route. Black lacquer, no undercoat. You could use the body you have, just strip it, and get a body maker to plane it for you, and re-radius it. The pickup cavities will have to be deepened a bit as well. I had to do this on one of my bodies for these Esquires. A non skunk stripe neck with a very beefy profile. I am using maple cap necks custom ordered from USACG for my 2 '50 Esquires. The originals of course were non-truss rod, but the maple cap gives you the look, with a truss rod. Early repro knobs,white guard, and an "organ switch" if you can find one, let me know! With an Esquire, I recommend strongly using a very hot pickup, something to give you lower midrange character, since you're only running a single pickup. Have the pickup custom made for you, or if you want the best, contact me for an Alan Hamel pickup. Let us know how it turns out!

December 20th, 2003, 05:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
inge Tele-Meister Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Sweden Posts: 147	a couple of tips.... 1:Decal,Mike at the Decalshop(www.thedecalshop.co.uk) He does amazing stuff and is a nice chap. 2:Pup,Try lundgren pickups in sweden (www.lundgrenpickups.se)He has made some amazing custom work over the years and it´s not that expensive either,good luck and keep us posted :) __________________ if it ain´t twangin´,it ain´t s....t!!

December 20th, 2003, 09:41 AM	#5 (permalink)
Teleologist Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Chicago Posts: 382	FWIW, you can do a late 50s maple-neck Tele or Esquire in black and be correct. I don't have the bible handy, but I recall that Fender started offering optional colors to the public in '57 for an extra charge. Before that it was generally for artists, but I've never been clear on the black '52 RIs - were any early-50's Teles(other than the Pine-Esquires) sold in black??? __________________ Keep on Twangin'

December 21st, 2003, 12:47 PM	#6 (permalink)
Chrismeyer Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Atlanta GA Age: 34 Posts: 631	Thanks for the input guy's. I have some searching to do,but less thanks to these site's you gave me. I'll keep you posted although it will probably be January (late)before I can really get going on it.(you know,Christmas and all) If anyone has more to add,I've got time to think,so let's have it!

December 21st, 2003, 01:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
0le FUZZY Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kolly-forn-knee-ya Posts: 10,001 6 Photos	They waz kinna purdy But a no-truss-rod-neck mite giff yew a headache and that thin pine body mite knott feel jes rite. Jes buy a $169.00 black Squier and pretend and make yer TELE like yew wassa gonna dew inna first place---------JMHO!!

December 21st, 2003, 03:50 PM	#8 (permalink)
Chrismeyer Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Atlanta GA Age: 34 Posts: 631	That's what I'll do Fuzzy.It's already painted and all.It was a really great quality MIM body,it's made jus lik a US of A body,and I agree the look and sound of the guitar will be improved by the body NOT being pine. I do have all '52 RI parts with straight head screws and brass saddles etc. I't will LOOK as close as possable to the real deal,plus more than likely none of us will ever touch a '50 esquire,so noone would know the difference anyway. Should I go for a "nocaster"pup? What would you do Fuzzy? W.W.F.D? BTW Inge,I saved the link to the decal guy,but the pup link didn't work, Thanks.

December 21st, 2003, 04:00 PM	#9 (permalink)
0le FUZZY Doctor of Teleocity Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Kolly-forn-knee-ya Posts: 10,001 6 Photos	Yew really wanna know???? Well I'll tell ya anyway. Iffin I wassa wantin a vintage sound on the duck-plucker and really wanted the tone I hear when I detect "Vintage" I'd haff Lindy Fralin re-wind a re-issue P/U tew the specs on a few he hass done fer me before. Don't use my name cause he don't know me from Adam cause I used a proxy fer my deals. Jes the bess IMHO!! (both the proxy and Lindy) ---0.F.---

December 21st, 2003, 04:48 PM	#10 (permalink)
Chrismeyer Tele-Holic Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Atlanta GA Age: 34 Posts: 631	Here's another one for ya Fuzzy. Since we're not keeping it exact to the real thing. You have any mad scien-tele-ist wiring for an esquire with a 4-way switch? There has to be something cool for that.